What’s At Stake For Chris Billam-Smith vs. Ryan Rozicki & The Latest Betting Odds

Make FightsATW Your Preferred Combat Sports Source

Enjoy our boxing and wrestling coverage? Add Fights Around The World as a Preferred Source on Google so our latest stories can show up more often in your Top Stories.

Add FightsATW on Google

This Saturday, Zuffa Boxing will hold its first British boxing card, with former cruiserweight contender Chris Billam-Smith facing recent Zuffa Boxing signee Ryan Rozicki.

Zuffa Boxing 07 will take place on June 6 at Bournemouth International Centre, in Bournemouth, England, and broadcast on Paramount+.

Let’s set the stage.

Next For Jai Opetaia?

Before we get into anything else, let’s speak to the obvious: that Jai Opetaia is lingering in the background. Opetaia is one of the best and, in my opinion, most underrated fighters in boxing. He has carved out a spot for himself with Zuffa and is the top dog in the weight class (and one of the biggest names in the company). Now, he needs interesting opposition. These two fit the bill: two world-class fighters who could be battling for the chance to face Opetaia.

How Good is Chris Billam-Smith?

Billam-Smith has been one of the best of his era, but has been overshadowed by those slightly better than him. Mainly Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, who defeated him in 2024, and Opetaia, who is viewed as the best titleholder in the division (and a recent Zuffa signee).

With a record of 31-2 (13 KOs), Billam-Smith has notable wins, including being the first fighter to defeat Lawrence Okolie and avenging a prior defeat to Richard Riakporhe. His win in April 2025 over Brandon Glanton is a solid win for any cruiserweight, as Glanton is better than most give him credit for, and he fought Opetaia in March.

That said, it is the cruiserweight division. The division isn’t a hotbed for network television. Billam-Smith has mostly fought in Europe, with no U.S. fight so far. His blue-collar style has been overlooked, and his notable bout against ‘Zurdo’ saw him fall short on the world stage.

At 35, his time in the sport is limited, one might think. Billam-Smith has two paths: a good, but never great fighter, who competed with the best, beat solid fighters, but never won against the top ones of his era, or he has a final run in Zuffa, that solidifies him as an all-time great (it might seem far-fetched, but it could happen).

The fight is simple; it tells how much Billam-Smith has left, and how good he is (or was).

Is Ryan Rozicki World-Class?

Rozicki’s record and resume tell two different stories. Rozicki is 21-1-1 (20 KOs), a compelling record, and he very well could be the division’s x-factor, but he has only fought in Canada. His lone loss came against Oscar Rivas in an ill-fated heavyweight bout in 2021, and most of his wins have come against good but not great opposition. In December 2024, he fought to a draw with Yamil Peralta.

Rozicki has established dominant wins in Canada, but has also had some humps and bumps along the way. At 31 years old, this is his chance to announce himself as not just a top cruiserweight but a viable option for high-paying fights, as he is an exciting come-forward pressure fighter.

What Does The Eye Test Say?

The optics point to the location. Billam-Smith is from Bournemouth, where the fight is taking place. It is a hometown fight for him. So, naturally, one might assume Billam-Smith would stand out given that he is being spotlighted on a big stage with Zuffa in his home region. Rozicki is a durable pressure fighter but never fought at this level. Common sense says Billam-Smith shines.

Yet, there is one thing that we haven’t talked about. Both fighters can get hit clean. Though Billam-Smith, a former world champion, has advantages, his age is not one of them. As much as he has potentially, ‘A-side treatment’ based on location, he has taken a lot of blows in his pro career. If this fight gets physical with 50-50 exchanges, it could turn into a battle of who can take more punches, as much as a demonstration of who is the more skilled fighter.